The Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System, was established in 2023 to support research toward a cure for this extremely rare type of soft tissue sarcoma.
There are 175 different types of sarcomas, and solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is among the rarest. It impacts approximately one person per million each year.
Joel Horowitz is one of those people. He is receiving treatment for SFT at Sylvester, one of the leading sarcoma centers in the world. As an entrepreneur, Horowitz built one of the nation’s premier distributors of designer lighting fixtures. Now retired, he’s funneling that same passion into supporting Sylvester’s mission to improve the disease management, treatment options, quality of life, and outcomes for patients with solitary fibrous tumor. Horowitz also volunteers through Sylvester’s Sarcoma Peer Mentorship Program, supporting fellow patients.
Scope of the Research
The Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative focuses on:
- creating an SFT biobank and patient tumor registry
- establishing novel SFT cell lines
- studying biomarkers
- gaining insight on potential therapeutic targets
- finding better tolerated, more effective therapies
Research aims:
- Establish novel cell lines, led by Zhenfeng Duan, M.D.
- Study SFT tissue to characterize how SFT begin and progress, led by Andrew Rosenberg, M.D.
- Partner with CARIS to integrate genomic, epigenetic, and expression data of the SFT samples
- Drug sensitivity testing to advance precision medicine, led by Jonathan Trent, M.D., Ph.D.
“Traditional research funding through grants is highly competitive, especially for rare diseases, such as SFT,” said Gina D’Amato, M.D., the Initiative’s lead physician-scientist. “Receiving a gift of this magnitude from Mr. Horowitz provides me and my colleagues with the financial resources to push past research barriers to significantly advance the understanding and treatment of SFT.”
“Mr. Horowitz’s generous gift allows us to create an SFT biobank and tumor registry with tissue samples from Sylvester patients, as well as those from other cancer centers around the world,” said Jonathan Trent, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Sylvester’s Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Group. “This resource allows our physician-scientists to establish novel SFT cell lines and study biomarkers as we look for clues into how these tumors work and gain insight on potential therapeutic targets using drug sensitivity testing. We want to find better tolerated, more effective therapies for patients with solitary fibrous tumor and, hopefully, one day, a cure.”
Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative Research Team
The research team advances tumor profiling, cell line development, and therapeutic discovery to accelerate precision medicine for SFT patients.
Meet the Research TeamPatient Registry
Sylvester and the Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative are building a dedicated SFT patient registry to better understand how these rare tumors develop, progress and respond to treatment. By participating, patients can contribute to critical research that aims to uncover the causes, biology and natural history of this rare disease. Every participant adds valuable insight that helps accelerate the discovery of more accurate diagnostics, improved treatments, and better outcomes for those facing SFT.
Patient participation involves:
- completing brief surveys about your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery experiences
- possibly donating biological specimens (such as blood or tissue)
- possibly sharing pathology and/or imaging reports related to your diagnosis
Patient data privacy and confidentiality: All data is handled with strict attention to privacy and confidentiality, and participation is voluntary.
The Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative may offer qualifying patients:
- access to patient education materials on SFT, its treatments, and expected outcomes
- unique opportunity to contribute to medical research on SFT
- enhanced diagnostic testing, imaging to confirm the diagnosis and locate and assess the tumor(s)
- patient risk assessment
- the latest treatments and therapies for SFT
- enrollment in related research programs and clinical trials
- emerging therapies for SFT
- disease management care and monitoring
- access to patient support groups
- post-operative and survivorship care
In addition, Sylvester offers a full range of cancer and survivorship support services for patients and families.
Register a Patient
Physicians within and outside the University of Miami Health System are encouraged to refer patients diagnosed with solitary fibrous tumor or hemangiopericytoma to the Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative. Patients and their caretakers may also self-register. To qualify, the patient must be 18 years or older and fluent in either English, Spanish or Haitian Creole. International patients who can receive care in South Florida are welcome to register.
Join the SFT Patient Registry
Your participation supports research and improves treatment outcomes for individuals with solitary fibrous tumors.
Register a patientDonation Opportunities
Members of the community are invited to help support the research efforts of the Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative. You can make a one-time or recurring gift, include this fund in your will or estate plans, or consider establishing life insurance, life income, or retirement asset gifts.
Support the Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative
Your generosity accelerates research progress and expands care for people affected by solitary fibrous tumors.
Make a DonationLearn More about Solitary Fibrous Tumor Research
Journal articles:
- Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Infratemporal Fossa
- The Role of Chemotherapy in Advanced Solitary Fibrous Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis
Research Summaries:
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